Lindsey Vonn clears Olympic hurdle days after ACL rupture despite brutal conditions

Feb 6, 2026 - 17:45

It’s been an incredibly difficult, but inspiring week for Linsey Vonn.

Vonn’s Winter Olympic preparation was dealt a major blow last week when she crashed during the final World Cup downhill.

Lindsey Vonn of Team United States during the course inspection before the Downhill Training of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 6, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. — Lindsey Vonn has made an improbable return back to the slope following last week’s injury

She was airlifted to hospital after losing control on a sharp landing, not the only athlete to crash during the testing conditions.

Scans revealed a complete ACL rupture in her left knee, along with a bone bruise and meniscal damage.

On Tuesday, she addressed a packed room of reporters, and closed her statement with a statement reflective of her career.

“But my knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident I can compete on Sunday.” she told reporters in Cortina.

Just days later, Vonn shocked fans by uploading a video of an intense workout, including performing weighted squats, rapid-fire box jumps and lateral lunges.

Vonn is all smiles after improbable practice run

It was medical report that would simply end the season for any other athlete, but Vonn is simply built different.

Days after receiving the diagnoses, and after refusing to withdraw from the upcoming games, she was back on the slope.

She was forced to wait more than 90 minutes at the top of the mountain, as fog halted proceedings.

Eventually, when she was finally allowed to push out of the starting gate, it answered the question of her potential participation.

Wearing bib No. 10 and a brace on her injured knee, she skied with intent finishing with a time of 1 minute 40.33 seconds.

Lindsey Vonn of Team United States skis during the Women's Downhill training on day zero of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 06, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. — Vonn’s 1 minute 40.33 second mark was amongst the best of all the athletes training

Lindsey Vonn of Team United States interacts with teammate Breezy Johnson after crossing the finishing line during the Women's Downhill training on day zero of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 06, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. — Vonn and teammate Breezy Johnson embraced at the end of her practice run

At the bottom of the piste, she exchanged a hug with teammate Breezy Johnson.

Vonn gave up retirement for chance at Olympic gold

What makes this comeback even more surreal is that Vonn’s right knee is partially made of titanium.

Following her retirement, chronic pain led to a robot-assisted partial knee preplacement in 2024.

The surgery’s purpose was to help her walk, but instead it has fueled a surprise Olympic bid.

Vonn’s return to a fifth Olympics after her five-year retirement has promised to become one of the biggest sporting stories of 2026.

She was already one of the most famous sports stars in America, and this latest act of bravery will only reinforce this.

She was hosting television programmes on Amazon Prime, an NBC correspondent and appearing on multiple chat shows before deciding to return to the slope.

Winner US Lindsey Vonn kisses the trophy during the winner's presentation of the women Super-G race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Zauchensee, Austria, on January 10 2016. / AFP / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) — Vonn is a superstar of Skiing, and no matter Sunday’s result, she will go down in history as one of the best to ever do it

The world will watch the slopes of Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre this weekend, and no matter the result, this improbable comeback is a testament of her legendary Skiing career.